Cut-off for can filling machines



June 20, 1 933. H, AYARs 1,914,356

CUT-OFF FOR CAN FILLING MACHINES Filed Oct. 14, 1930 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR Charles are June 20, 1933.

c. H. AYARS 1,914,356

CUT-OFF FOR CAN FILLING MACHINES Filed Oct. 14, 1930 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR Charles H-Ayars.

W 55 11715 ATTORNEY June 20, 1933.

CUT-OFF FOR CAN FILLING MACHINES Filed Oct. 14, 1930 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Earl].

WITNESSES [N V EN TOR charleaHn kyam M J-IJS ATTORNEY c. H. IAYARS 1,914,356

June 20, 1933.

CUT-OFF FOR CAN FILLING MACHINES Filed Oct. 14, 1950 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVEN TOR Eh arle 5 H-A 7ars I v. 1;, I 'HIS ATTORNEY c. H. AYARS 1,914,356

June 20, 1933. c, AYARs 1,914,356

CUT-OFF FOR CAN FILLING MACHINES Filed Oct. 14, 1930 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 IIIIIIIMHU INVENTOR CharlasHAyars M I HISATTORNEY WITNESSE Patented June 20, 1933 UNFT'EED 'STAT E'S' PATENT OFFECE.

CHARLES H.

COMPANY, or SALEM,

AYIAHS, OF SALFWI, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO AYARS; MACHINE NEW JZEBSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY CUT-OFFFOR CAN FILLING MACHINES Application fil'e'd October 14, 1930. Serial No. 488,579.

This invention relates to cut-off for can filling machines, and has for an object to provide improved mechanically operated mechanism for closing the port, employed for introducing material into a can, when a can is omitted from the series of cans being fed to the inachine. I

In can filling machines, instrumentalities are provided for measuring the commodity to be introduced into the can, such measuring devices co-ordinating with the movement of the can, so that at a predetermined point in the movement of the can, a passage is established through a port from the measuring device to the can, and the commodity measured, discharged into the can. If, however, through manual or mechanical deficiency, a can is omitted in the sequence, then the material measured by the measuring device is discharged into the machine itself with the loss of material, and the fouling of the device.

Attempts have heretofore been made, to provide a cut-oif, to interrupt the port, in case a can is omitted from the series, as for instance, in applicants Patent No. 1,689,661. Such attempts however have, heretofore, relied upon the can itself for actuating certain systems of levers for opening. and closing the cut-off. It has been demonstrated, that the resistance of the cut-off mechanism and its operating devices, is such as to jam or otherwise damage the can, and is therefore, objectionable from that point of view.

The present invention is an improvement on said Fatent No. 1,689,661, and substitutes mechanical means, operated from the movement of the canning machine itself, for actuating the cut-off, employing the interposition of a can only for the matter of operating a trip, or trigger,to throw the device into and out of operative connection with moving parts. 7

An object of the invention is, to provide mechanically operated structures, connected with a cut-off plate, for swinging said cutoff plate about its pivot, with means for actuating said mechanical device from the moving parts of the canning machine itself, and a trigger initiating the action of said parts. 7

The invention, therefore, comprises in combination with a canning machine, having a port, a cut-off mechanism, which oscillates upon a fixed pivot, with a journaled shaft adjacent to said cut-off mechanism, with means for positioning the shaft in the path of movement of certain moving parts of the canning machine, and with a triggeractuated from the can to move the shaft into and out of the path of movement of said moving part.

The invention is directed to other objects and possesses other features of novelty and advantage, some of which, together with the foregoing, will be hereinafter more fully setforth.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a top plan view of the deck of a canning machine, showing the cut-off mechanism in closed position, and in dotted lines, in open position,

Figure 2 is a view in side elevation of the cut-off operating instrumentalities, taken from the point of view indicated by arrow 2, at Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a view of the actuating mechanism in side elevation, from the point of view indicated by arrow 3', at Figure 1,

Figure e is a transverse sectional View through the actuating mechanism, taken on line H of Figure 2, I

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on line 55 of Figure 2, and

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on line 6'6 of Figure 1.

Like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

The device disclosed in the present application, is adapted for operation with canning machines of various types. It 1s shown as employing a deck 10 which is fixed and beneath which, rotates a disk 11, carrying a plurality of funnels 12 which are positioned to discharge into cans 13, moved 1n any approved manner as by the fingers 14, the illustration indicating a rotary machine, and the fingers 14, carried by turrets in the usual well known manner, actuating the cans 13, upon a fixed table. These instrumentalities have only been indicated schematically, and are in no way a limitation upon the invention. 7

About the deck 10, a curb 15 is erected, and upon the top of the deck, and within the curb, measuring devices 16, are mounted to rotate the lower end of said measuring devices being open and moving upon the deck as a bottom closure, until the port 17 has been reached at which point, unless obstructed, the contents of the measuring device, indicatedconventionally at 18, will be discharged through said port 17,' into the underlying funnels 12, and from there, discharged into the underlying cans 13. This is satisfactory in every particular, so long as the can 13 is in position, but when through inadvertence, cans are occasionally omitted, the contents of the measuring device is discharged throu h the port, and is lost and fouls themac ine. -To overcome the discharge of the contents 18, under such conditions, a cut-off 19 is employed, pivoted at 20, and adapted to swing to the position '19, as shown at Figure 1. In the position 19, the port 17 is open, and the contents of the measuring device 16 will be discharged, but when in the position shown in full lines, in Figure 1, the port is closed, and the measuring device will slide over such cutbfi without discharging such contents, carrying the charge through a complete revolution, and discharging it upon its neX passage of the port 17, if uncovered.

The cut-01f 19, is located in a veryslight depression 20, formed in the deck 10,'the showing in the drawings being rather exaggerated, the actual thickness of said cut-off being so slight as to offer practically no impedance to the passage of the contents 18, of the measuring device 16, thereover.

In the Patent No. 1,689,661, above referred to, a cut-off, corresponding somewhat to the cut-01f 19, and operating in somewhat a similar manner, is shown, but in that patent, as above outlined, the mechanism for operating is shown as being actuated wholly from the interposition of thecan itself. To overcome the objection above outlined, shafts 21 and 22 are journaled adjacent the deck 10, in any approvedtype of bracket 23. These two shafts are parallel, as shown more particularly at Figure 3, and are interconnected by gears 24 and 25, carengage either the arm ried respectively upon the shafts 21 and 22. As shown in the drawings, these gears 24 and 25 are merely segments, which is found ample for the purpose but of course, the invention is not limited to such segmental form.

The shaft 21 is provided with an arm 26, and the shaft 22 is provided with an arm 27, both rigidly secured thereto, at angles, as indicated in the drawings. These arms 26 and 27, as will be noted from Figures 2 and 3, are at difl'erent levels, the arm 26, being slightly higher. The rotating part of the structure, as for instance, the funnels 12, are provided with radially extending lugs 28 which are secured to the funnels in any approved manner, no attempt being made to show any particular mechanical connection. The lugs 28 extend to such position as to 27, or the arm 26, as the said arms may be in the path of move ment of said lugs. As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the arm 27 is in the path of movement of the lug 28. To move the arm 26, into the path of movement of the lug 28, and the arm 27, out of such path of movement, the shafts 21 and 22 are respectively provided with collars 29 and 30, which bear upon a cross-head 31, carried by, or forn1- ing a part of, the bell crank lever 32, fulcrumed at 33. The lower leg of the bell crank lever is actuated by means of a link 24 fromthe trigger 35. The trigger 35 is fulcrumed at 36, and overruns the margin 37 of the table 38, upon which the cans are i moved, as by the fingers'14. Also preferably, the trigger 35 is provided with an arcuate flange 39, and has a curved extremity 40 for the purpose to hereinafter more clearly appear.

One of the shafts, as for instance the shaft 21, is longer than its neighbor, and carries a lever 41, which extends over the flange 15, and over the deck 10, and is provided with a slot 42, 43, carried by the cut-01f plate 19, and by the oscillation of which, the cut-off 19, is swung alternately between open and closed positions. To more fully insure the passage of the measuring devices over the cut-ofi' mechanism in closed position, a spring clip 43 is provided, under the end of which, the cut-01f 19 is introduced at closed position, and a corresponding spring 44 under which the cut-off mechanism slips at These springs maintain the proper position of the cut-off within the depression 20, and with its upper surface in planar unity with the plane of the deck 10.

As shown at Figure 1, for instance, the

cut-ofi' mechanism is in closed position, and the lug 28 is just about to make contact with the arm 27. Such contact will move the arm 27 and therewith, the shaft 22 as its fulcrum, and by reason of the intergear engaging upon a pin 1 open position.

that the arm 26 is .the direction indicated movement will swing the lever 41 from full mg of the gears 24 and 25, will likewise move the shaft 21 toshift the arm 26 from full line position, to dotted line position in by the arrow. This line position to dotted line position, so that approaching cans will receive the discharge of the material 18, from the measuring device 16.

Once open in this manner, the cut-off plate remains open until closed mechanically. The mechanical closing is brought about by the lowering of the shafts 21 and 22, so brought into the path of movement of the lug 28, whereupon, the engagement of this lug 28, with the arm 26, will reverse the lever 41, from dotted line position, to full line position to close the port 17 The raising and 21 and 22, to bring either the arm 27, or the arm 26, to the level of the path of movement of the lug 28, is brought about by the trigger 35, operating through the link 34, bell crank lever 32, cross-head 31, and collars 29 and 30. In the position shown at Figure 2, the relation of the arm 27 to the lug 28 is the same as that shown at Figure 1, that is to say, in position so that the lug 28 will engage the arm 27, that is whenthe lmk 84 is moved to its outward limit, as indicated by the arrow at Figure 2. This is, in turn, brought about by the interposition of the the lowering of the shafts cans 13, hearing against the trigger 35. As

'the can indicated at does not pass from the heel 45, before the shown at Figure 5, the cans are passing about their orbit in proper sequence, and one can, as the can indicated specifically as the can 13", is following so closely after 13, that the can 13 can 13 is engaged by the end 40 of the trigger 85, so that this trigger 1s held constantly outwardly in the direction indicated -'by the arrow at Figure 5, to hold the link however, a

, and thereupon 34 in the direction indicated by the arrow at Figure 2.

This maintains the shafts 21 and 22 at the elevation shown at Figures 2 and 3. When can is omitted, as indicated at Figure 4, the trigger will swing, upon its fulcrum 36, to the position shown at 35 when the can 13 leaves the heel 45. The movement of the trigger reversely to that indicated by the arrow, will also move the link 34 reversely to the direction indicated by the arrow to move the bell crank lever 32, and cross-head 31 therewith, and thereby drop the shafts 21 and 22 so that thearm 26 is now brought into the path of movement of the lug 28. Before device upon the deck 10 has 17 ,the lug 28, engaging the arm 26, will rotate such arm from the position shown in full line, at Figure 4, and

the measuring reached the port in dotted line at Figure 1, to the reverse po sition, thereb oscillating the cut-elf 19 up on its pivot2 to closed position. This cutofi will remain in such closed position until it is again mechanically opened. The mechanical opening is brought about by :another can moving against the curved end of the trigger 45, moving such trigger from the dotted line position (at Figure 4) to full line position, again moving the link in the direction of the arrow and raising thereby, the shafts 21 and 22 to bring the arm '27 into the path of movement of the lug 28, which, in passing, will oscillate such arm from the position shown in full lines at Figure 1, to the dotted line position, and also swing the arm '26 and the lever 41 to dotted line positions, thereby swinging the cut-off 19 over to dotted line position, and opening the port 17.

Whenever, therefore, the cans are supplied to the machine in proper sequence, the trigger 35 will remain at this outward position, and the cut-off will remain open. When, however, a can is omitted, the weight of the structure, bearing upon the cross head 13, and its connected parts, will swing the trigger inwardly which will bring about the closing of the cut-off in the manner described, which will remain closed as noted, until a can is again in the proper order to receive a discharge from the measuring device, that is to say, the position shown at 13", at Figure 5, whereupon, the structure will again present itself to the action of the lug 28 for opening the cut-off 19. This cutoff will oscillate between open to closed positions, and alternate as often as cans are omitted from sequence, and again supplied.

Of course, the cut-off for can filling machines, herein illustrated, may be modified in various ways without departing from the invention herein set forth and hereinafter claimed.

The invention is hereby claimed as follows 1. A canning machine provided with a deck having a port, a measuring organization moving along the deck and over the port, a cut-ofi for the port, a part moving relative to the deck, means connecting the moving part to actuate the cutoff, and a trigger positioned to actuate the connecting means.

2. A canning machine embodying a deck having a port, a cut-off mounted to oscillate relative to the port, a part mounted to move relative to the deck, means connected with the cut-off actuated in opening and closing directions by the moving part, and a trigger adapted to position the connecting means for actuation in either direction by the moving part.

3. A canning machine embodying a deck having a port, a cut-off plate mounted to oscillate to open and closed position relative to the 'port,'a part, mounted to move relative to the'deck, an arm positioned to oscillate the cut-off, a trigger, and means actuated by the trigger to connect the arm with the moving part.

4. A canning machine embodying a deck having a port, a cut-off plate mounted to oscillate to open and close the port, a lever mounted to swing to oscillate the cut-off, an arm associated with the lever, a trigger, and means actuated bythe trigger to move the arm into :the path of movement of the moving part. v

5. A canning machine embodying a deck having a port, a cut-off plate fulcrumed to oscillate to open and close the port, a lever adapted to oscillate the cut-off, a part mounted to move relative to the deck, an arm positioned to actuate the lever, a trigger, means actuated by the trigger to move the arm into the path of movement of the moving part, and a second arm movable into the path of the movement of the moving part tending to swing the cut-off in the opposite direction.

6. A canning machine embodying a deck having a port, a cut-off plate fulcrumed to oscillate to open and close the port, a lever connected with and to oscillate the cut-off, an arm associated with the lever, a part mounted to move relative to the deck, means to move the, arm into the path of movement of the moving part, a trigger to initiate the last mentioned movement, a second arm adapted to move the lever in the opposite direction, and means to position .either of said arms in the path of movement of the moving part.

7. A canning machine embodying a. deck having-a port, a cut-off plate mounted to oscillate to open and close the port, means to move a series of cans relative to the deck, a trigger mounted to be positioned by cans being moved, means employing the movement of the can moving means to swing the cut-off selectively in opposite directions, and means actuated by the position of the trigger to select the direction of swing of the cut-off.

S. A canning machine embodying a deck having a port, means to move cans in series beneath the port, a cut-off for the port, an arm adapted to actuate the cut-off, a pair of devices for moving the cut-off in opposite directions, and means determined by the position of the can to place said devices alternately in the path of movement of the can moving mechanism.

9. A canning machine comprising a deck having a port, means to move a procession of cans beneath said port, a cut-off for the port, a trigger mounted to be maintained at a predetermined position by the continued sequence of cans, means to move the trigger when the sequence is interrupted, and means aetuated'by the movement of the trigger to initiate a connection between the cut-off swinging mechanism, and the can moving mechanism. v

.10. A canning machine comprising a deck having a port, means to move aprocession of cans beneath the port, a swinging cut-off for opening and closing the port, a trigger mounted adjacent the orbit of the cans and adapted to be maintained in a pre-determined position by a continued sequence of cans, means to move the trigger from said position when the sequence is interrupted, a lever mounted tomove the cut-off, and means initiated by the movement of the trigger to actuate the lever from the cam moving mechanism.

11. A canning machine comprising a deck having a port, means to move cans beneath the port in a uniform procession, a cut-off closing communication from the port to the can, a trigger mounted adjacent the orbit of the cans and adapted to be maintained in a pro-determined position by an uninterrupted sequence, means to move the trigger away from said pre-determined position when the sequence is interrupted, a lever mounted to move the cut-off, an arm positioned to move the lever, and means connected with the trigger to move the arm into and out of the path of movement of the can moving mechamsm. j

12. A canning machine comprising a deck having a port, means to move a uniform procession of cans beneath the port, a cutoff mounted to oscillate to close the port, a trigger mounted adjacent to the orbit of the cans and adapted to be maintained by the sequence of cans in a pre-determined position, means to move the trigger away from said predetermined position when the sequence of cans in interrupted, a pair of shafts mounted adjacent the several ele ments, a pair of arms carried by the shafts, a lever carried by one shaft adapted to oscillate the cut-off, and means connecting the trigger to raise and lower the shafts to position the arms alternately in the path of movement of a part of the can moving mechanism.

13. A canning machine comprising a deck having a port, measuring units moving along the deck and over the port, a cut-off mounted to move under the measuring units to open and close the port, a cut-off actuating organization including operating arms arranged in different planes, a member to move cans in series beneath the port and provided with lugs, and a trigger actuated by cans upon the can moving member operating against a reactive resistance to position one of the arms in the path of movement of the lugs, the reaction operating upon the trigger in the absence of a can to shift the planes of the. arms to position the other arm in the path of movement of the lugs.

14. A canning machine comprising a deck having a port, measuring units moving along the deck and over the port, a cut-off mounted to move under the measuring units to open and close the port, a cut-off actuating organization including intergeared operating arms arranged in different planes, a member to move cans in series beneath the port and provided with lugs, and a trigger actuated by cans upon the can moving member operating against a reactive resistance to position one of the arms in the path of movement of the lugs, the reaction operating upon the trigger in the absence of a can to shift the planes of the arms to position the other arm in the path of movement of the lugs.

15. A canning machine comprising a deck having a port, measuring units moving along the deck and over the port, a cut-off actuating organization including operating arms effecting the opening and closing by swinging in opposite directions, said arms being arranged in different planes, a member to move cans in series beneath the port and provided with lugs, and a trigger actuated by cans upon the can moving member operating against a reactive resistance to position one of the arms in the path of move ment of the lugs, the reaction operating upon the trigger in the absence of a can to shift the planes of the arms to position the other arm in the path of the lugs.

16. A canning machine comprising a deck having a port, measuring units moving along the deck and over the port, a cut-off mounted to move under the measuring units to open and close the port, a cut-off actuating mechanism including operating arms arranged in different planes, a member to move cans in series beneath the port and provided with radially outstanding lugs gyrating in a fixed orbital path, and a trigger actuated by cans upon the can moving member operating against a reactive resistance to position one of the arms in the path of movement of the lugs, the reaction operating upon the trigger in the absence of a can to shift the planes of the arms to position the other arm in the path of movement of the lugs.

17. A canning machine comprising a deck having a port, measuring units moving along the deck and over the port, a cut-off mounted to move under the measuring units to open and close the port, a cut-off actuating organization including operating arms arranged in different planes, a member to move cans in series beneath the port and provided with lugs, and a trigger actuated by cans upon the can moving member operating against a reactive resistance toposition the organization with one of the arms in the path of movement of the lugs, the reaction operating upon the trigger. in the absence of a can to shift the planes of the arms to position theother arm in the path of movement of the lugs.

18. A canning machine comprising a deck having a port, measuring units moving along the deck and over the port, a cut-off mounted to move under the measuring units to open and close the port, a cut-off actuat ing organization including operating arms arranged in different planes, a member to move cans in series beneath the port and provided with lugs, and a trigger actuated by cans upon the can moving member operating against a reactive resistance to position the organization with one of the arms in the path of movement of the lugs, the reaction operating upon the trigger in the absence of a can to move the organization to shift the planes of the trms to position the other arm in the path of movement of the lugs.

19. A canning machine comprising a deck having a port, measuring units moving along the deck and over the port, a cut-off mounted to move under the measuring units to open and close the port, a cut-off actuating organization including intergeared operating arms arranged in different planes, a member to move cans in series beneath the port and provided with radially outstanding lugs gyrating in a fixed orbital path, and a trigger actuated by cans upon the can moving member operating against a reactive resistance to position the organization with one of the arms in the path of movement of the lugs, the reaction operating upon the trigger in the absence of a can to move the organization to shift the planes of the arms to position the other arm in the path of movement of the lugs.

20. A canning machine comprising a deck having a port, measuring units moving along the deck and over the port, a cut-off mounted to move under the measuring units to open and close the port, a cut-off actuating organization including intergeared operating arms effecting the opening and closing by swinging in opposite directions, said arms being arranged in different planes, a member to move cans in series beneath the port and provided with radially outstanding lugs gyrating in a fixed orbital path, a trigger actuated by cans upon the can moving member operating against a reactive resistance to position the organization with one of the arms in the path of movement of the lugs, the reaction operating upon the trigger in the absence of a can to move the organization to shift the planes of the arms to position the other arm in the path of movement of the lugs.

21. A canning machine comprising a can moving member, a feeding unit, a cut-off for the feeding unit, a shiftable organization for opening and closing the cut-off, and means carried by the can moving member to move the shiftable organization against a reactive resistance for actuating the cut-01f, the reaction operating upon the interruption of cans on the can moving member to shift the shiftable organization for reversal of actuation of the cut-01f.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

CHARLES H. AYARS, 

